I have a few extra wide magazine files that I got at the Container Store (I think it's this XL file, it's been a while since I ordered them). I am able to fit over a year's worth of magazines in one of these, I think around 18? That's primarily because I have taken the pattern sheets out of most of the magazines and put them in their own file. Now, if you do the math you will realize that 4 years of magazines are not pictured here, that's because I have the recent issues floating around in the room, I need another magazine file to put them in!
I photocopy the "All Styles at a Glance" pages of each issue and place them in plastic sheets in a binder ordered by date, just like Cidell has done. It makes for great bedside reading.
My traced patterns go in plastic protector sheets in their own binder, along with a swatch of fabric and a rough sketch of the garment to help jog my memory. These are also ordered by date and pattern number.
I know some people have really great electronic systems where they download the line drawings & photos from the website and create searchable tags, etc. I would love this but it's more work than I'm willing to put in. What I really want is for BurdaFashion.com to do this for us! I'd love a search feature where you could create your own query using:
Garment type (i.e. top, pants, dress)
Women's/Men's/Children's
Date range
Burda/Burda Plus/Easy Fashion
BurdaStyle is developing this search feature for the patterns on their site, and since they are part of the same parent company as BurdaFashion.com, why not share? I asked about this on the Burda Fashion forums but received no reply...
Hello, Hubert Burda Media! Are you listening? I'm willing to help test :)
The Burdastyle Coffee Date dress is done, I am wearing it tonight so I'll post pics this weekend. I have a 2/2009 BWOF dress halfway done to wear to a wedding on Saturday afternoon, so you can guess what I'll be frantically working on Saturday morning...
What great organizing ideas for those patterns! Right now I have my traced patterns folded up in ziploc bags that are stuff into shoeboxes. No labels, no pictures, no keywords anywhere. I can still get away with this method because I've only ever traced out three patterns and I know which ones they are. That may not last very long...
ReplyDeletethanks for this! i just started a Burda Subscription and on my 4th issue. i've been wondering how to organize everything, there's so much material involved with just one issue! i really live your archive of "all styles at a glance" wicked idea!
ReplyDeleteYes.... your containers were sold out when I went looking last week. But, I found some by Rubbermaid that are XL on Amazon that I will purchse shortly.
ReplyDeleteI forget your had the pattern sheets seperate. I should do that too!
I am a blatant copycat.
I would love if they would PDF the old issues - like more than two years old. Odds are that you won't use them very often (except a few favorites) so you could have the magazine electronically and just keep the pattern sheets. What a shelve saver that would be. I why oh why don't they give us the "at a glance" in PDFs to download. Gah. :-)
ReplyDeleteChristina,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for answering my question. I am going to get myself organized that way. I have over a years worth of Burda since I have only been subscribing since April 2008, but I have also accumulated about 5 back issues. Right now they are laying on the floor of the closet in my sewing room.
Anne - Agree on both points! Clearly there is so much that could be done to help us manage these back issues.
ReplyDeleteRachel - You're welcome. And yes, start early, while it's still manageable!
Good to know about Burda's future site enhancements. I only have about 8 issues of BWOF to my name so far but I can see that an organization system is so necessary.
ReplyDeleteI started to copy the "all styles at a glance" pages the first few issues I received. Then I stopped. I better get to it before I fall behind. Right now my mags are stacked in several places in my sewing room. This weekend, I'm devoting my some time in my sewing room. Thanks for your tips. ;)
ReplyDeleteMine is organized in a similar fashion. It seems to work for me as well.
ReplyDeleteI just started my subscription a few months back, but I think I need to look into a better organization system already. Yours looks pretty good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I keep meaning to photocopy the illustrations to put into their own binder. Memorizing all them is failing to work. I suppose I better get started before my 2 years worth gets out of hand.
ReplyDeleteI am a newbie when it comes to Burda and only have 4 issues under my belt. However, I am an organization freak and love your ideas. I will copy and put the styles at a glance in a binder this weekend. Thanks for the motivation.
ReplyDeleteMy system is quite similar, but I cut up the copies of the "All Styles at a Glance" pages and glue them back together, skirts to skirts, dresses to dresses etc, writing the issue numbers next to them. When I want to make a dress, for example, then I don't have to look through everything but can directly go to the dress patterns.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Beatrice in Germany
Organizing BWOFs is a science in itself! I like seeing how other sewers manage their collections. I should add that I store my traced patterns in Pattern Saver (ziplock) bags along with a picture of the garment and the sewing instructions.
ReplyDeleteChristina I hope you never have to see my house, the lack of organization will probably make you nauseous. You and Cidell are really setting the bar here. :-)
ReplyDeleteSuper organized! I use that method too (file). Your ideia to print all "All Styles at a Glance" pages are very interesting. I guess I will do the same.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed. My magazines are stacked in an area of my sewing room. No where near as organized as you or Elaray!
ReplyDeleteI organize my BWOFs exactly as you do; I also keep my traced patterns the same way, adding a fabric sample and a short summary of the model so I can go back to it if needed!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your system, Christina.
ReplyDeleteA note to Anne LO: I scan the "styles at a glance" pages each month, so by the end of the year, I have the whole 12 months available for "flipping" through on my laptop. We can PDF our own until Burda does it for us.